Gordon Campbell has been a denture wearer for the past 75 years and knows how time consuming and tedious it can be to get a proper fit.

He’s eager to try a new dental process that uses 3D scanning, modelling and printing technology to allow patients to be fitted in a single two-hour appointment.

Usually, patients need to visit a denturist six to eight times to be properly assessed, measured and fitted.

“This is going to make life easier for a lot of people,” Campbell, 93, said. “I know how long and difficult it can be to get fitting dentures.”

Campbell joined the Canadian Air Force at age 18 with a rotten set of choppers.

“I had poor teeth. They were all shot and needed to be taken out and I didn’t want the military to do it so I went to a dentist to have then taken out and I’ve worn dentures ever since,” he said.

He is looking forward to the new 3D method for a quicker and better fit for his next set of dentures, which are generally replaced every five years as the fit diminishes.

Ivory Digital Denture developed a method to 3D scan the face and mouth, design the denture for print, and build the denture’s teeth and gums through 3D printing.

The patient sits in a rotating chair while scanners record the head from all directions and an implant is placed in the mouth to scan for fit.

“I realized there was a better way to do things where the patient has input. There hasn’t bee a system in place where the patient can comment and give feedback on how they want to look in a single session,” Ivory Digital Design denturist Shlomo Sharer said.

“There is so much excitement over this. I know patients who have learned about this and delayed their work until the system is in place.”

Sharer says his new denture technique should be rolled out by the end of next month.

Frank Odorico, president of the Denturist Association of Ontario, did not return requests for comment.